Latest updates: Labour calls plans for statute of limitations to end prosecutions related to the Troubles before 1998 ‘staggeringly insensitive’
- Government to introduce statute of limitations on Troubles prosecutions
- Tory MP says party must change attitude towards taking the knee
- Shapps: mask-wearing expected to remain on public transport
- Coronavirus – latest global updates
Labour has said that plans to introduce a statute of limitations to end all prosecutions related to the Troubles before 1998 – in effect an amnesty, covering terrorists as well as members of the armed forced – are “staggeringly insensitive”.
Brandon Lewis, the Northern Ireland secretary, is set to announce the plans in parliament this afternoon. As our preview story reports, a government source said:
We want to give Northern Ireland society the best chance of moving forward as one – to do that we must confront the difficult and painful reality that the realistic prospect of prosecutions is vanishingly small and while that prospect remains Northern Ireland will continue to be hamstrung by its past.
Our legacy package will support Northern Ireland to move beyond an adversarial cycle that doesn’t deliver information or reconciliation for victims and survivors nor end the cycle of investigations against our veterans.
Related: Government to introduce statute of limitations on Troubles prosecutions
This is not a fait accompli. This is UKG outlining its position. Irish Govt has very different view (Stormont House), as do NI political parties & victims groups. SOSNI & I have committed to an inclusive dialog to try to agree consensus & that’s underway. https://t.co/MCQt5mbKgI
This government gave victims their word – they would deliver the proper investigations denied to victims and their families for so long.
To tear up that pledge would be insulting, and to do so without the faintest hint of consultation with those who lost loved ones would be staggeringly insensitive.
At what point did your government lose all sight of its moral, ethical and judicial backbone?
According to media reports, the government are preparing legislation to address crimes committed during The Troubles, which would: “allow people who were involved in the conflict to testify about what happened without fear of prosecution, giving closure to families of those who were killed.”
In interviews this morning Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, sought to explain how Transport for London will get passengers to carry on wearing masks next week when it is not longer a legal requirement in England. Masks would be a “condition of carriage”, he said, and special staff would enforce the rule. He said:
We employ a number of enforcement officers, over 400. They will be making sure if anyone’s not wearing a face mask, they will be reminded of the importance of doing so.
